Born in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bobby Shew began playing the guitar at the age of
eight and switched to the trumpet at ten. By the time he was thirteen
he was playing at local dances with a number of bands and by fifteen had
put together his own group to play at dances, occasional concerts and in
jazz coffee houses. He spent most of his high school days playing as many
as six nights a week in a dinner club, giving him an early start to his
professional career.

He then spent three years as the jazz trumpet soloist in the famed
NORAD multi-service band. Shortly after leaving he joined the Tommy Dorsey
Orchestra under the direction of Sam Donahue, which, among other things,
gave him the chance to perform quite a bit with trumpet legend Charlie
Shavers. After his stint with Tommy Dorsey, Bobby was asked to play with
Woody Herman's band upon Bill Chase's recommendation. He then spent some
time playing for Della Reese and Buddy Rich.

Once in Los Angeles, Bobby quickly found what he was looking for, and
in the years to come he spent time with the groups of Art Pepper, Bud
Shank, Horace Silver Quintet, and Frank Strazzeri-Sam Most, as well as
numerous big bands such as Bill Holman, Louie Bellson, Toshiko
Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin, Oliver Nelson, Bill Berry, Nat Pierce-Frank Capp
Juggernaut, Ed Shaughnessy, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Maynard Ferguson,
Neal Hefti, Don Menza, and Bob Florence.

Today, in addition to a busy performing and private teaching
schedule, Bobby spends a considerable amount of time actively involved in
the educational system, conducting clinics and master classes at high
schools and college campuses all over the world. Bobby has also been
active on the Board of Directors of the International Trumpet Guild, and
has acted as National Trumpet Chairman for the International Association
of Jazz Educator's for 16 years.He
continues to tour internationally and to produce and record excellent
music. He has released several recent albums for the MAMA Foundation including Playing with Fire (with Tom Harrell), Heavyweights (w/Carl Fontana),
and Salsa Caliente. In
addition, for other labels, Bobby has released the highly regarded CD recorded
with The Metropole Orchestra, and
a double-CD set for Seabreeze Records of The Music of
John Harmon.